Glatiramer and Tremors: What Users Say

• jmb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I had tried Copaxone after Avonex (which had caused horrific headaches 5 out of 7 days of the week), and after 2 months on the medication, I had two horrible reactions 2 out of 3 days. Same symptoms, the second time sent me to the Emergency Room. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Freezing/chills for hours, severe shaking, heart palpitations - I thought I was at the end of me. The neurologist said those symptoms are rare, but twice in 3 days was a bit much. Not to mention the daily injections and the pain after the injections in my legs and stomach. Switched to Rebif. Was on that for 7 years and have been off all medications for over a year. MS symptoms getting worse, but the side effects of all the newer medications make me question whether it is worse to take them or just naturally worsen. I know that is sad, but I have young children and don't want to develop PML. I wish they would come out with medications that don't have a laundry list of side effects."

• Mon...
• May 21, 2016

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I wrote a review in 12/2015. Unfortunately, I had to stop using Copaxone because I got bad reactions. The last one was body shaking, like if I had a machine connected to my body for one hour, my buttocks muscle shaking so much. I got very scared and stopped the medication. It's been 2 months, and I don't think I will go back to it. I am just trying to eat healthy, I cut all dairy and red meat."

• Lin...
• January 24, 2017

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I started taking Copaxone in mid-August 2016. The first 3-4 months, I didn't notice any real difference. After the first few weeks, I didn't have any more site reactions. For the last two months, I'm experiencing terrible joint pain. Leg cramps in the middle of the night; my hips are stiff, and my shoulders hurt. Just a little while ago, my hand was shaking so bad. It's scared me. So here's the thing - I'm not experiencing any of the other MS symptoms that I had before taking Copaxone. Gone are those electrical shock sensations; I'm not really more numb, the weird feeling that runs down my spine. It seems like I've traded one set of symptoms for another. Before Copaxone, I enjoyed exercising. Now, not so much. :("

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2022

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "So I have been on Copaxone for about 3 months now. The injection site was bad. I got big welts and bad itching. That has gone down quite a bit. But now, as of a month ago, I have been having a very fast heart rate and having a hard time breathing at times. Also, I'm cold all the time now. Never had a problem with that before. I don't feel like doing anything. I'm always tired. And the shaking, stomach aches, back aches, and numbness in my face and hands all suck. I have also, in the last month, been having a problem with anxiety. I have never had anxiety before. I did all kinds of blood tests and a chest X-ray because I thought there was something wrong with my heart. But everything keeps coming back normal. So it has to be from the Copaxone. I'm thinking I'm gonna stop the Copaxone for a week and see if my symptoms improve. I can't take all of this. This is not me. It is driving me crazy."

• Stu...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 18, 2017

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2009. Started Copaxone 20 mg. Used auto inject. Had injection site lumps, itching, bee sting-like reaction always. The skin began to atrophy. Had the immediate post-injection reaction (IPIR) too many times to count. Can't breathe, flushing, back spasms, terrible headache, chest pain. Was switched to 40 mg because of lack of injection sites a few years later. IPIR was THE WORST I've ever experienced. Stopped taking it for about 6 weeks. No exacerbations since my diagnosis. While off the meds, I started having more nerve pain. My MS doctor said to switch back to 20 mg. I had a bad reaction last night with freezing, shaking, and joint/muscle pain for an hour. I have 4 injection sites left to use: hips and flanks. Don't want liver trouble from other meds. Stuck."

• cia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2017

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "Started taking Copaxone 16 months ago - no major side effects until last two months. On two occasions, the MS nurse thinks I may have injected into the bloodstream - uncontrollable shaking and chills - my husband almost called an ambulance. The neuro wants me to start Aubagio, but I would like to trial the MS diet first on a 3-month trial. I don't know what to do!"

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "I had severe side effects on the 3rd injection of 40 mg. My body was shaking so bad for 3 hours, blood pressure was up high, and I had heart palpitations. My husband almost called 911, but called my neurologist's office, and the doctor on call said, 'it can happen and it will go away', so I didn't go to an emergency. The next morning, my blood pressure was 75/45. I was fainting. It went away within a couple of hours, but then flu-like symptoms with severe headaches started afterwards. The doctor's office told me to stop the medicine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 14, 2012

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "Did nothing to slow down the progression, but did help with the muscle cramping and twitching."

• JON...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 20, 2018

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "My hair fell out, I gained a lot of weight, my tooth decayed, and I ended up with severe shakes after taking it."